Cathy Hopkins - [Mates, Dates 04] by Dates Mates, Sleepover Secrets (Html) Page B

and
I was going to the sleepover at Nesta’s in half an hour. An evening of culture
had been planned. ‘The Simpsons’ and ’Buffy‘ on Sky then ’EastEnders‘,
’Friends’ and ‘South Park’.
    Mum came in carrying a
large carrier bag and plonked herself on the bed. She looked
very
pleased with herself.
    ‘I couldn’t resist,’
she said, getting something wrapped in tissue out of the bag. She pulled out a
calf-length dress with swirly rust, maroon and orange-coloured flowers on it.
    ‘What do you think?’
she asked.
    The word ‘disgusting’
came to mind, though I suppose it was pretty in that
cottage-chintzy-curtain-fabric way.
    ‘Not your
usual
taste, Mum,’ I said, thinking I was being diplomatic. Mum isn’t
fashion-conscious at the best of times but her style is more plain than flowery.
Jaeger and Country Casuals for work and sloppy tracksuits for the weekend. And
her idea of making an effort to dress up is to wear a blue glass bead necklace.
Even if it’s with the tracksuit.
    ‘Not for me, silly,’
said Mum. ‘It’s for
you
.’
    Whaaat? Aggggh
. No.
Buuuut it’s horrid
, I
thought.
    ‘It’s lovely, isn’t
it? I saw it in a little boutique opposite the surgery and remembered what
you’d said about wanting to look more like a girl. Perfect, I thought. I
described you to the lady in the shop, said you had dark hair and hazel eyes
and she said you’d be an Autumn according to her Colour Me Beautiful chart and
would suit the brown rusty colours,’ said Mum, not drawing breath. ‘Cost a
fortune but we won’t tell Dad. It’s about time you had something nice. So what
do you think?’
    She was so delighted
with her purchase that I didn’t have the heart to hurt her feelings.
    ‘There aren’t words,’
I said truthfully.
    ‘I
knew
you’d
love it. You can wear it to your new friend’s house, can’t you? Try it on, try
it on.’
    I smiled weakly as I
desperately searched for something to say. Hmm?
How
do I get out of
this one?
    Ten minutes later, I
was in the kitchen wearing the dress and still wondering, literally, how to get
out of this. Course, that had to be the very moment Scott banged on the back
door.
    ‘Evenin’ all,‘ he
said, letting himself in and stroking Mojo, who jumped up in greeting.Then he
saw me.’Yuk. You going to a fancy dress?‘
    ‘
Shhh
,’ I
said.‘Mum’s upstairs. She bought it for me.’
    ‘What, to wear?’
    ‘No. To scare off burglars.
Yes
, to wear.’
    Scott pulled a face.
‘You look weird. Like you’re in “TheWaltons”.’
    ‘Thanks a bunch. So
how do I get out of it?’
    Scott went round to my
back, put his hands on my waist and nuzzled into my neck. ‘Now
that’s
one thing I’m good at, helping girls out of their dresses.’ He started to
stroke my hair then play with my zip. ‘Now, Miss Watts,’ he whispered. ‘I
really don’t think this is your style. Let me help you out of it and into
something… more… comfortable.’
    I giggled and slapped
him, hoping he didn’t see me blushing. Him nibbling my neck made me feel all
fluttery inside. Nice.
    ‘
Uhyuh yunnawee
,’
I started to say, then took a deep breath and made myself remember this was
Scott
for heaven’s sake
. ‘Seriously though,’ I said, turning so he
couldn’t see my red face. ‘I’m going to a sleepover tonight at a new mate’s
house and I can’t possibly wear this. She’ll think it’s so naff.’
    ‘What new mate?’
    ‘
Oh
!’
I suddenly remembered he fancied
Nesta. ‘Er… Nesta Williams new mate.‘
    ‘You’re kidding.
Nesta
?
Why didn’t you tell me? When did this all happen? I thought you said she was an
airhead.‘
    ‘Well, I was wrong.
She’s actually very nice.’
    Scott punched the air.
‘
Yes
. Will you promise, promise,
promise
to put a word in for
me? Or even better, you could bring her here and I could kind of casually drop
in and you could introduce us?’
    I
could
I
suppose, I thought, watching Scott as he went into the hall and